Pipeline and Storage Software Solutions: Bringing Safety, Scheduling, and Settlements Together

Pipeline and storage operators sit at the center of the energy value chain, responsible for moving and managing vast volumes of hydrocarbons safely, efficiently, and profitably. Yet the complexity of midstream operations continues to grow.

From meeting regulatory requirements to balancing shipper nominations, tracking linepack, managing storage inventory, and ensuring accurate settlements, operators are expected to coordinate dozens of systems and data streams that rarely speak the same language.

This is exactly where modern software solutions for pipeline and storage operators are transforming the industry. By unifying operational control, scheduling, and accounting within a connected digital ecosystem, these platforms help operators make faster decisions, reduce risk, and capture revenue that previously slipped through the cracks.

In this post, we’ll explore how these solutions streamline operations from real-time volume tracking to automated settlements, strengthen safety through continuous monitoring, and support strategic decision-making with powerful analytics dashboards.

#Unifying Operational Control, Scheduling, and Accounting

Traditionally, pipeline and storage operators have relied on multiple siloed systems to run their business. One platform handled SCADA and operations. Another handled scheduling and nominations. A different accounting system captured throughput, applied tariffs, and generated invoices. Each solution worked independently, creating data gaps, delays, and costly manual reconciliation.

Modern midstream oil digital solutions eliminate these barriers by integrating operational, commercial, and financial processes under one umbrella. Instead of juggling disconnected applications, operators manage the entire lifecycle (from nomination to settlement) through a streamlined workflow.

For example, schedulers can view live operational data alongside nominations and capacity constraints. Commercial teams can see exactly how volumes are flowing in real time, reducing disputes with shippers. Accounting teams gain automated feeds of actualized volumes, tariff structures, and imbalance calculations, eliminating error-prone spreadsheets.

The result is a cohesive, accurate, and transparent environment where decisions happen faster and with greater confidence.

For a better insight, please refer to the following blog: “Pipeline Infrastructure: The Backbone of Midstream Oil and Gas”.

#Real-Time Volume Tracking: Clarity and Control for Every Molecule

Real-time visibility is one of the most powerful capabilities of modern pipeline scheduling software. Operators must always know:

• How much product is entering the pipeline

• How much is in transit

• How much is being delivered or withdrawn

• How storage inventory is changing

• Where imbalances may be occurring

Legacy tools often lag behind by hours or even days; forcing teams to rely on estimates and experience to anticipate constraints or optimize flow.

Cloud-based oil and gas software changes that completely. Real-time volume tracking allows operators to monitor every movement as it happens. Data from field sensors, meters, and SCADA systems flows directly into the platform, updating dashboards instantly.

This creates several advantages:

1. Improved flow optimization – Operators can adjust pressures, linepack, and storage injections based on current conditions rather than historical estimates.

2. Faster exception handling – Leaks, meter discrepancies, and nomination errors can be identified within minutes.

3. Enhanced communication with shippers – Real-time transparency reduces disputes and improves customer service.

4. Reduced financial leakage – Accurate volume tracking ensures every molecule moved is accounted for and billed correctly.

In essence, real-time data turns the midstream system from reactive to proactive.

#Integrity Monitoring: Safety Meets Smart Digital Infrastructure

Safety remains the top priority for every pipeline and storage operator. With aging infrastructure, increased regulatory oversight, and rising public expectations, operators must maintain absolute vigilance.

Modern oil and gas pipeline software integrates directly with integrity and safety systems such as:

• Pressure and temperature monitors

• Leak detection systems

• Corrosion and integrity management tools

• Risk scoring models

• Valve and equipment status alerts

Because these systems feed into the same digital environment as scheduling and operations, operators gain a holistic picture of both commercial and physical realities.

Imagine a scheduler planning an upcoming batch movement. With integrated integrity monitoring, they can instantly see if a segment is under a temporary pressure restriction or if any maintenance is scheduled that may impact flow. That level of visibility helps prevent unsafe scheduling decisions before they happen.

Similarly, control room operators can quickly investigate anomalies by comparing real-time operational data with volume movements and commercial activities. An unexpected pressure drop or inventory discrepancy becomes easier to trace, contextualize, and respond to.

This fusion of safety and commercial systems represents the future of software solutions for pipeline and storage operators; a connected environment where safety is woven into every decision.

For a more detailed insight, please refer to the following blog: “Next-Generation Pipeline Infrastructure: Integrating AI, Edge Computing, and IoT”.

#Automated Settlements: Accuracy Without the Manual Reconciliation Headaches

Settlement and revenue management are among the most time-consuming aspects of midstream operations. Each shipper pays based on a complex combination of tariffs, nominated volumes, actualized flows, fuel usage, and imbalances. Even small discrepancies can trigger disputes that take weeks to resolve.

Integrated midstream software automates these processes. Once a volume is actualized, the system applies the correct rules, rates, and adjustments automatically. Fuel and loss allowances are calculated based on configured business rules. Any imbalance is recognized immediately and carried forward into the next cycle.

This not only reduces manual effort; it significantly improves accuracy. Accounting teams no longer need to chase missing meter data, compare multiple spreadsheets, or re-enter batch details by hand. All the information they need flows seamlessly from operations and scheduling into settlement workflows.

Modern cloud-based oil and gas software also ensures all parties (operators, shippers, and regulators) have access to consistent data, reducing audit risks and shortening dispute cycles.

#TIES: A Unified Solution for Nominations, Imbalances, and Tariffs

Among the leading platforms in this space, TIES stands out for its ability to consolidate the full commercial lifecycle of pipeline and storage operations. It offers a single interface to manage:

Nominations

Shippers can submit nominations through an intuitive portal that validates contract limits, capacity availability, and system constraints in real time. Schedulers gain a live, accurate view of incoming requests and can approve or modify nominations with a click.

Imbalances

TIES automatically tracks over and under deliveries, calculates shipper imbalances, and provides visibility into cumulative positions. Operators can set custom imbalance rules, penalties, and tolerances; reducing disputes and enabling more efficient balancing across the network.

Tariffs and Rates

Tariff structures, fees, surcharges, and contract terms are embedded directly into the system. When volumes are actualized, TIES applies the correct rates and generates settlement statements with complete transparency.

The unified nature of TIES means teams no longer have to juggle multiple systems to piece together schedules, volumes, operational status, and financial obligations. Everything is connected; reducing errors and improving accountability across the organization

#Integrated Analytics Dashboards: Better Decisions from Better Data

Data is only valuable if it can be interpreted quickly. That’s why modern midstream oil digital solutions increasingly include customizable analytics dashboards that consolidate operational, commercial, and financial insights.

These dashboards may include:

• System capacity utilization

• Linepack trends

• Storage inventory levels

• Shipper activity and performance

• Maintenance and integrity alerts

• Revenue, imbalance positions, and settlement summaries

Interactive visualizations allow users to drill into the data behind anomalies, evaluate performance over time, and forecast future scenarios. This level of insight empowers leaders to allocate resources, optimize asset usage, and make informed strategic decisions based on real-time conditions rather than outdated reports.

#Conclusion: Digital Integration Is the Future of Midstream Operations

As the midstream sector evolves, the pressure to improve efficiency, safety, and transparency grows larger every year. Operators must coordinate more data, more regulations, more shipper demands, and more complex assets than ever before.

Modern software solutions for pipeline and storage operators bring these challenges under control by unifying scheduling, operations, safety, and accounting into a single digital framework. With features like real-time volume tracking, integrated integrity monitoring, automated settlements, and powerful dashboards, platforms such as TIES help operators work smarter, faster, and with far fewer errors.

Whether you’re looking for gas pipeline software, pipeline scheduling software, or a comprehensive cloud-based oil and gas software suite, the future of midstream operations is clear: connected systems, real-time intelligence, and seamless end-to-end visibility.